Socket and socket installation



' June lles, 1942. a M, DEL CAMP l2,286,984

SOCKET AND SOCKET INSTALLATION v Filed Feb.' 1. 194:5A

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 21 Awww my June 16, 1942. l s. M. DEI. cAMP '2,286,984 f SOCKET AND SOCKET INSTALLATION Filed Feb. 1, 1940' 2 sheets-sheet 2 vIuwema'. Jcpione MDeZC'amp Patented June 16, 1942 socmrr AND socxET msraun'rroN Scipione M. Del Camp, Maywood, lll., assignor to Cinch Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in plug and socket connections, particularly to a connection comprising a socket member of new and original construction adapted ta make electrical n connection with the leads of a plug member such as an electrolytic capacitor and at the same time providing means electrically engaging a metal shield or envelope provided by the plug member so as to ground the same to another part.

Referring to the drawings, in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an electrical connection including a socket member secured to a supporting panel witha plug unit such' as an electrolytic 'capacitor in connectionI with the socket member Fig.- 2 is a top plan view of a supporting panel with my improved socket member secured there- Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the installation shown in Fig. 2;

v Applicationrl'february 1, 1940, Serial No. 316,794

contact terminals of the socket member through an opening 8 of the v The capacitor, which 'is preferably similar in form to that illustrated and described in connection with my co-pending United States application, Serial No. 301,625, includes a metal can orenv. velope 9 having a ange IDat its lower end. A

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line I 4-4 of Fig. 2 and showing a plug part in electrical connection with the socket member;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig.. 2 and showing a plug part such as an electrolytic capacitor in partial section;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view 'of my improved socket `member with thei uppermost insulating plate removed to show the assembly of the parts;

Fig. 7 is a top plan View ofthe lowermost insulating plate of the socket member and showing the socket contact terminals assembled therewith;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the grounding member forming a part of the socket; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a socket contact terminal carried by the' socket member.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown an electrical connection comprising a socket member I secured to a supporting panel 2 by attaching means such as the rivets 3 headed over upon opposed sides of the socket member and panel, and a plug unit such as an electrolytic capacitor 4 in electrical connection with the socket member. The socket member I carries a plurality of socket contact terminals 5 and a metal grounding member 6 for electrical engagement with a metal envelope of the plug member l ina manner to be described. The plug member with which I have chosen to illustrate my improved invenmetal ring member II (Fig. 5) and at least one insulating plate I2 are contained within the iiange I0. in engagement with the metal envelope 9 between the insulating plate I2 and inwardly turned edges I3 (Fig. 5) providedv at the outermost end of the angel-IIIEI'he prong terminals 1, herein shown as three in'number, are secured within the capacitor in any suitable manner and project through the insulating plate I2 beyond the lowermost end of the capacitor. Ihe ring member II has an integral pair of guide prongs Il joined to the ring member around its circumference' and extending downwardly beneath the capacitor in the direction taken by the terminals 1 so as to cooperate with the socket memberl in a way to engage the terminals 'l with proper contacts 5.

The socket member I has a body of insulating material which, in my preferred form, ls made up of three relatively thin insulating plates including (viewing Figs. 4 and 5) an upper insulating plate I5, a lower insulating plate I6, and an intermediate plate Il. The socket contacts 5, in

my preferred form, include a U-shaped terminalreceiving portion comprising side portions Il and I9 joined by a bight 20. 'Ihe side portions I8 and I9 are preferably normally in adjacent relation and expansible upon insertion of a prong terminal therebetween to engage opposed sides ofthe terminal under the tension effected by the bight 20. A support-engaging portion 2| for engagement with the upper surface of the insulating plate I6 extends outwardly from the side portion is in the form of an electrolytie capacitor I having prong-like terminals 'l extending beyond tion I9 at its end opposed to the bight 20 and a support-engaging portion!! extends outwardly from the side portion I8 at its end away from the bight 2liy and in a direction opposite to that taken by the support-engaging portion 2l. A

soldering terminal 23 integrally joined to the portion 22 at its outer end extends downwardly yin angular relation thereto. f

The lower insulating plate I6 has a number of openings, as most clearly shown in Fig. 7, including threepairs of openings with the openings 24 and 25 of each pair preferably of rectangular form and disposed in spaced parallel relation. 'Ihe opening 24 of each pair-is adapted to receive the side rportions I8 and I9 of the sullpOrting panel 2.

2 respective contact terminals 5 and the opening receives the soldering terminal 23. Thus the Contact terminals 6 are carriedby the lower plate I6 with the4 support-engaging portions 2I and 22 disposed between the'insulating plates I6 and I1. The lower plate I6 also has an opening 26 receiving a soldering terminal provided by the metal grounding member 6 and a pair of rectangular openings 21 adapted to receive the guide prongs I4 of the plug member. Each of. the openings 21, in my preferred form, has a notch 28 in a longitudinal side thereof for receiving a positioning lug carried by the grounding member 6, as will be described. The intermediate plate I1 provides prong-receiving openings 29 in alignment with the openings 24 of ythe plate I6. The openings 29 are of predetermined shape to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the prongs 1 adjacent the lower end of the plug member. The plate I1 also has an opening 30 lin alignment with the opening 26 and openings 3I-3I in alignment with the openings 21 of the plate I6. Each of the openings 3l has a notch 32 in alignment with the notch 28 of the corresponding opening 21.

The grounding member 6 is formed of one piece of sheet metal and comprises a ring-like portion 33 disposed between the plates I1 and I5 when the parts of the socket member-are in final assembly. Positioning means in the form of lugs 34--34 integrally joined to the inner peripheral edges of the ring portion 33 extend downwardly therefrom through the aligned notches 32 and 23 of the plates I1 and I6 to maintain the grounding member in xed relative position. Means for I4 into the openings 36 of the upper plate Il. The terminal prongs 1 then may pass through the aligned openings 33 and 29 of the plates I6 and I1 and enter between the sides I8 and I3 of the respective contact terminal 5 to effect electrical connection with the same. During this action the linger portions 33 are expanded by engagement of the flange I0 ofthegmetal envelope therewith and then contract after passage of the ange by the same whereby the inwardly extending portions 31 engage the metal envelope under constant spring tension. Thus the metal envelope may be grounded through the grounding member to a lead wire (not shown) soldered to the terminal 35. The gripping engagement -of the fingers 36 with the plug unit'also aids to maintain the plug unit in secure mechanical as-` sembly with the socket unit.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be-limited thereby because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A socket member for an electrical connection including a number of superposed insulating plates, said plates having openings for receiving prong-like terminals of a cooperating plug member and contact springs assembled with said plates in alignment with said openings for electrical engagement withsaid prong-like terminals, and a metal member including a ring-like portion assembled with said socket Ibetween two receiving a lead wire (not shown) in the form f of a soldering lug extends downwardly from the ring portion 33 through the aligned openings 30 and 26 of the plates I1 and I6 and beyond the plate I6 a sufficient distance to enable a lead wire to be soldered thereto. This lug 35 also may act as the means to position the grounding member in the socket instead of using the lugs 34 34, but 4I prefer the additional use of the lugs 34-34. `A plurality of expansible fingers 36, herein shown as four, integrally joined vto the ring portion 33 around the outer peripheral edge thereof, extend upwardly from the ring portion in a direction opposite to that taken by the lugs 34. The finger portions tending portions 31 adjacent their outermost ends with the distance between the innermost points of the portions 31 of opposed fingers 36 less than the diameter of the metal envelope 9 through the flange Ill.

The upper plate `I5 provides prong-receiving openings 38- (Fig. 2) in alignment with the openings 29 of the plate I1 and openings 39 in alignment with the openings 3| of the plate I1 for receiving the guide prongs I4. The plate I5 also has four openings 40 in relative position to receive the finger portions 36 of the grounding member which extend through the plate I5 to a position above the socket member. The parts of the socket member may be maintained in initial assembly -prior to attachment of the socket to the supporting panel 2 through means of a central rivet 4I extending through the insulating plates and headed over on the outer sides of the socket member.

After the socket member has been assembled with the panel 2 and wired permanently into the circuit, the capacitor is connected therewith through moving it toward the socket member in proper relative position to enter the guide prongs 36 provide inwardly exof said plates, a lug portion integrally joined to said ring-like portion extending downwardly therefrom through one of said plates and coopcrating with said plate to maintain said metal member in proper relative position'to said socket and to provide -a soldering lug, a plurality of yieldable finger portions integrally joined to said ring-like portion around the periphery thereof, said finger portions extending upwardly from said ring-like portion for electrically engaging a shielding envelope of said plug member when said plug and socket members are in connected relation.

2. A socket member for an electrical connection including three superposed insulating plates, the upper and intermediate plates having aligned openings for receiving prong-like terminals, contact springs carried by the lower plate in alignment with said openings for electrical engagement with prong-like terminals of a cooperating plug member, and a metal member assembled with said socket including 'a ring-like portior disposed between said upper and intermediatr plates, said metal member having positioning means cooperating with said plates to maintaii said metal member in proper relative position t1 said socket and a yieldable finger portion inte grally joined to said ring-like portion, said finge portion extending from said ring-like portioi through said upper plate for electrically engag ing a shielding envelope of said plug membe when said plug and socket members are in con nected relation. l

3. A socket member including three super posed insulating plates, the upper and interme diate of said plates having aligned openings fr receiving prong-like terminals of a cooperatir plug member, contact springscarried by sai lower plate in alignment with said openings f1 electrical engagement with said prong-like te minals, and a member assembled with said sock including a ring-like portion disposed betwel said upper and intermediate plates, lug portions` and a yieldable portion integral with said ringlike portion extending through said upper plate for electrically engaging a shieldingenvelope of said plug member when said plug and socket 5 members are in connected relation.

SCIPIONE M. DEL CAMP. 

